Lenox — The fifth annual Lenox Jazz Stroll takes place on September 6 and 7, and tickets for the sixth (Ted Rosenthal) are already sold out. But there is plenty more happening on the seventh, and we have all the details directly from Mill Town’s Andy Wrba.
The Mill Town Foundation started producing the Lenox Jazz Stroll in 2020, as Andy explains below, not only because they saw a need in the community for safe, family-friendly, outdoor activities during a pandemic but also because they like jazz music. They like it well enough to keep holding the event every September, and they like to see it presented in Lenox’s parks and venues free of charge, alongside the ticketed events. So they continue to partner with Berkshires Jazz and the Lenox Chamber of Commerce to make it happen.
I spoke on the telephone with Andy Wrba last week to get the latest details. Our conversation has been edited for clarity and length.
EDGE
When did the Lenox Jazz Stroll begin?
WRBA
Lenox Jazz Stroll started in 2020 when things were shut down—when the world was shut down, essentially—and the community was looking for places to safely gather and connect and enjoy some live music. So Milltown Foundation, in partnership with the town of Lenox and Berkshires Jazz, started the Lenox Jazz Stroll. We had a handful of different locations throughout downtown Lenox, and we painted circles on the ground, made sure people were practicing safe social distancing, and had a tremendously successful first year. Since 2020, we’ve expanded the event. It’s grown both in quality and quantity over the years.
EDGE
What’s going on with the Stroll this year?
WRBA
This year, we have an exceptional lineup, and we’re so happy to be working with Tanglewood and the Boston Symphony Orchestra to present an opening concert at the Linde Center on Friday, September 6, featuring Ted Rosenthal and his amazing all-star sextet, with someone I like to refer to as the queen of the scene, Wanda Houston, opening the show. So that’s a very exciting new addition to this festival, a concert at Tanglewood.
As far as community initiatives go, the BSO is looking to create more connections and collaborations with Berkshire-based artists and organizations. So this, I think, is what’s shaping up to be a tremendously successful start to that. And then on Saturday, we have just a stellar lineup of free concerts and offerings throughout downtown Lenox, with some busking happening in the early afternoon and then three bands performing at Lilac Park between 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Each of those groups will perform right in the park, and folks are encouraged to bring chairs and blankets and picnics—or, you know, get something to go from a local restaurant—and enjoy the day in the park. And then we’ll have an evening concert at Pizzeria Boema, on Main Street, with the Peter McEachern Quartet.
EDGE
Any specific acts you’d like to mention?
WRBA
Yeah. So, the three acts at Lilac Park are certainly worth noting: The Matt Steckler Quartet opens. Matt is a great tenor saxophone player and is also the band director at Lenox High School—a great local connection there. And then the second group is the Kris Allen Quartet. Kris Allen’s a phenomenal alto saxophone player who lives in Connecticut but is the jazz director up at Williams College. So, another Berkshire-, educationally based musician.
EDGE
Excellent!
WRBA
And then the day will be headlined—and the park concerts will be closed out by—the Charu Suri Trio. Charu Suri is an amazing pianist from New York City who’s performed at Carnegie Hall, and she’ll be performing some of her material from her “Rags & Ragas” album. She has a great sound. It’s kind of like an Indian, Eastern sound mixed with some straight ahead jazz. It’s going be very cool.
And all those concerts all day on Saturday are free, open to the public, and appropriate for all ages. So families and everyone are welcome.
EDGE
Any other details you’d like to mention?
WRBA
This is the fifth annual Jazz Stroll, so we’re excited just to see this continuing to evolve and grow. We’re looking forward to a great community gathering in the center of the Berkshires.
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Here is the schedule for Saturday, September 7, at Lilac Park, Main Street, Lenox:
- 3 p.m. — Matt Steckler Quartet
- 4:30 p.m. — Kris Allen Quartet
- 5:45 p.m. — Charu Suri Trio
Admission is free to all of the Lenox Jazz Stroll’s Lilac Park performances.
